Nasarawa - The International Organization for Migration (IOM), hosted a workshop for 70 representatives of government agencies and civil society organizations on 13 – 14 March in Nasarawa State, to review the Nigeria Immigration Service National Border Management Strategy (NBMS).

The purpose of the strategy is to articulate a renewed vision and approach to border management in Nigeria. This will be done within the scope of the duties of the lead agency for border management, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), while taking into full consideration the responsibilities of other Nigerian agencies in border management, as well as the need for inter-agency collaboration.

“IOM is supporting the Government of Nigeria to develop a National Border Management Strategy (NBMS) to enhance the Nigeria Immigration Service’s capacity in the effective management of Nigeria’s borders within their stipulated mandate”, said Ukamaka Osigwe IOM Nigeria National Programme Officer. “The strategy is intended to clarify and update the strategic vision and operational approach of NIS. It will also assist in setting direction for NIS for long term planning,” she added.

Bearing in mind regional, continental, and international aspects of migration management that directly affect Nigeria’s approach to border management, the strategy will look at border management in the context of all its primary purposes and goals such as national security, economic development, migrants’ rights and other main purposes.

In line with the collaboration and coordination proposed by the National Migration Policy, IOM engages with the Stakeholders’ Forum on Border Management and relevant stakeholders working on border management issues in Nigeria in the review and validation of the draft NIS NBMS, to ensure that the NIS strategy document reflects the contributions of all stakeholders.

“With the ever-increasing mobility of persons and goods in a globalized world and the increase in new cross border criminalities, the need to find a balance between open but secured borders has become imperative”, said John Uebari, Deputy Comptroller General Border Management NIS. “Therefore, efforts to secure the borders in Nigeria are undergoing transformation, in response to the competing demands of facilitating mobility and managing cross border risks.”

This Workshop is convened with funding from the European Union (EU) within the framework of the EU-IOM Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in Nigeria” The initiative seeks to, amongst other things, contribute to strengthening the governance of migration in EU partner countries and to the sustainable return and reintegration of returning Nigerian migrants.

IOM is currently working with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure that borders are better managed, and that regular and safe travel is facilitated. Current areas of intervention include increasing the impact of information technology at borders and at key NIS offices in-country, development of NIS training curriculum, and establishment of Personnel Training Resource Centres, as well as developing the use of intelligence gathering in operation and effective immigration control.

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For more information please contact Jorge Galindo at IOM Nigeria, Tel: +234 906 273 9168, Email: jgalindo@iom.int or Ikechukwu Attah iattah@iom.int